 | This article contains too many or overly lengthy quotations. (December 2023) |
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| Languages | |
|---|---|
| Somali | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Majeerteen, Dhulbahante, Warsangali, Marehan, Ogaden and other Darod groups. |
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| Part of a series on |
| Somali clans |
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The Geri Koombe (Somali: Geri Koombe, Arabic: جرئ كومبي ) is a sub-clan of Darod, a prominent Somali clan with the earliest records of Garadship. They belong to one of the major Somali groups, the Darod. The Geri live in the Somali Region of Ethiopia between Harar and Jigjiga, in Wardheer zone, in Bale, Bay, the Kismayo regions and in the Northern Frontier District of Kenya.
The Geri Koombe are famous for their conquest in Abyssinia during the 16th century where they played a very prominent role in Adal Sultanate. The Geri clan was the most powerful and most loyal to Imam Ahmed Al-Ghazi. According to Futuh Al Habash, the most original and authentic history of the Somalis, the Geri Koombe Garad, Garad Matan, whose sister was married to the Imam, led all the other Somali forces which was led by its own powerful Garad Hasan. The Marehan, Habar Maqdi Hawiye, Gurgure and Bertire all fought under the leadership of the Geri Garad. Garad Matan ibn Uthman Al Somali who was the brother in law of the Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi and his right-hand man who the most powerful troops into the Ankobara front near Addis Ababa. The conquest of Abyssinia resulted in the islamisation of nearly half of Ethiopia and the Geri played a leading role. About 250 years later, Sir Richard Burton came into the Geri country and made an assessment how strong the Geri Garad was. In 1858, Garad Adan was the leader and he controlled the geography between Jigjiga and Harar He has 5000 troops and was a close friend of Now or Sharmarke of Zayla city. To the north of Jigjiga was controlled by Garad Adam and to the South was Garad Hirsi Will waa of the Bertire. According to Richard Burton, Garad Adan was a relative of Amir Nur who was the ruler of Garad. At the time Sir Burton visited the region, Garad Adan was seeking to overthrow Amir Nur who was his cousin. Both Fatuhul Habash and Sir Richard Burton's "First Foot Steps in East Africa" talk about the Geri sultanate as one of the most powerful and ancient kingdoms in Somali history.